Great conditions this week with mostly stable snow and nice weather, a good time for alpine objectives. We have lingering concerns for persistent slabs in this area, where a 20-40 cm slab may overlie the Jan 24 surface hoar/crust layer in random places. As the surface snow becomes deeper, watch for cracking or signs of slab formation.
Wind slabs may exist in the alpine on steep lee aspects resulting from south and west winds moving up to 15 cm of recent snow. Watch for drifted snow, and use any opportunities to test on small terrain features, and check the stability of the surface snow.
A 10-30 cm slab over crusts and/or a surface hoar layer from Jan 24th is a problem that could catch users off guard in isolated locations just above, or just below treeline. Check the snowpack often: monitor the character and behaviour of the slab above this weak layer closely.
No new avalanches observed or reported.
The snow surface is a mix of crusts and soft snow, and changes often within short distances, but soft powder is on the surface on the north aspects at treeline and sheltered alpine areas. Below this, lies a variety of crusts on solar aspects; dry snow on north aspects, and surface hoar/crust (Jan 24) down 15-30 cm around the treeline. Below this interface, the snowpack is generally strong and well settled.
A ridge of high pressure will keep our region dry for the next few days, temperatures will remain -5 to -10, and winds will be light/moderate from the West. There is hope for a few (<5 cm) on Friday and Saturday - fingers crossed!
